Apparatus,like a sterilizer,with a conveyor

ABSTRACT

Sterilizers for e.g. tins of food, having a conveyor travelling in vertical loops and comprising two chains with carriers for supporting the tins therebetween. Each carrier is attached to two opposite chain links and has a trough-like shape with a discharge opening for the tins along its entire length. In vertical portions and bottom curves of the conveyor&#39;&#39;s path these openings are barred by sideways protruding lips on edges of adjacent carriers. In the top curves the tins may be placed into or discharged from the carriers since the protruding lips give access to the opening of adjacent carriers due to the different angular position of the chain links.

I United States Patent 1151 3,704,774

Van der Winden 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] APPARATUS, LIKE A STERILIZER, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS WITH A CONVEYOR 1,015,870 1/1966 Great Britain ..l98/l3l 72] Inventor: Johannes Bernardus v der w 113,445 11/1966 Netherlands ..l98/140 den, Amstelveen, Netherlands Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka [73] Ass1gnee: Stork Amersterdam, Amstelveen, Attorney waters,RoditiSchwanz and Nissen Netherlands 22 Filed: Aug. 21, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl No; 66,031 Steriliz ersfor e. g. tins of food, having a conveyor travelling 1n vert1cal loops and compnsmg two chams with carriers for supporting the tins therebetween. Forelgll Appllcatlon y Data Each carrier is attached to two opposite chain links Aug. 26, 1969 Netherlands ..6912986 and has a trougmike shape with a discharge opening for the tins along its entire length.

[52] US. Cl ..198/152 In vertical portions and bottom curves of the con- [Sl] Int. Cl. ..B65g 17/12, B65g l7/l6 veyors path these openings are barred by sideways [58] Field of Search ..l98/22 R, 22 B, 131, 140, protruding lips on edges of adjacent carriers. In the l5l-l52 top curves the tins may be placed into or discharged from the carriers since the protruding lips give access [56] References Cited to the opening of adjacent carriers due to the different angular position of the chain links. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,347,351 10/1967 Mencacci ..198/131 2 Chums D'awmg gums PATENTEDnu: 5 ran SHEET 1 BF 7 PATENTED nEc 5 I972 SHEET 2 0F 7 PATENTED DEC 5 I972 sum 5 or 7 APPARATUS, LIKE A STERILIZER, WITH A CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device such as a sterilizer provided with a conveyor following a path having verti-.- cal loops, the conveyor consisting of at least two parallel chains, guided in the curves of the loops by sprocket wheels, between which for each link, a carrier is prol vided for carrying containers, and wherein the carrier consists of a trough with an opening extending the entire length thereof, said opening being sideways in a vertical portion of the path.

A sterilizer of the aforementioned kind is known from the Netherlands Pat. specification No. 120048. Many embodiments of sterilizers of this type are also known wherein the opening of the carrying trough is moved to a short distance from a guide wall in order to prevent the containers from leaving the carriers at an undesired moment. The presence of such a guide wall is, however, restrictive of the heat transfer in the sterilizer and renders difficult the possibility of cleaning the device.

lt is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned kind in which the guide walls are eliminated and which is adapted to convey containers of various dimensions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For the purpose described an apparatus is contemplated according to the invention wherein each carrying trough is provided with a sidewise protruding lip on an edge thereof, with each lip being directed in such a way toward the adjacent trough that in each vertical portion of the track any unintended discharge of a container from the opening of the adjacent trough is prevented, while in a curve either the feeding of containers to, and the discharge from each carrier is possible, or the opening is further closed without exerting pressure on the containers. In this way there is provided a carrying trough with a uniform cross-sectional profile which is fixedly secured between the associated links of two parallel chains and which pivots with respect to an adjacent carrying trough when the chain links pivot with respect to each other. The lip therefore assumes a position with respect to the opening of the adjacent carrying trough, wherein the opening is dependent on the curvature of the track.

In order to keep the apparatus as compact as possible it is preferable to keep the diameter of the sprocket wheels for the chains as small as possible. According to the invention, the sprocket wheels are positioned in the curves in which the openings of the carrying trough are directed toward a sprocket wheel, and have a diameter whereby they turn the links at a distance with respect to each other that the top edge of the lip is situated in the plane of an adjacent opening, while the sprockets in those curves where the bottoms of the troughs are directed toward a sprocket have a diameter whereby they turn the links at a distance with respect to each other that the top edge of the lip is turned away as far as to be beside an adjacent opening, so that in the vertical tracks the top edge of the lip lies just before the opening. In view of this design it is achieved that the angle at which the links can pivot with respect to each other at the point where a vertical track extends into a curve,

where the openings of the carriers are closed, is as great as possible, so that the diameter of the sprocket wheel can be kept as small as possible. It is obvious that in a curve, where the supply of containers to and the discharge from each carrier is possible, it is advisable that the top edge of a lip is entirely turned away from the adjacent trough opening. A condition which should be satisfied in order to render this possible is that the 0 distance of the top edge of the lip to the center line of the adjacent pivot pin of a link is greater than the distance of the opposite, concealed edge of the carrying trough to the other pivot pin of the associated chain link.

An apparatus which is especially suitable for treating cylindrical containers, all having the same diameter, and which travels through sharp curves and which has semicircular carriers, is provided according to the invention in that the opening of each carrier is restricted by a protruding wall part constituting a bridge part between the trough and the lip and by a concealed edge on the opposite side of the trough, whereby the plane in which the lip is situated extends above the axis of the cylindrical part of the trough and intersects the concealed edge. This construction is advantageous in that it becomes possible to keep the protruding lip substantially between the plate-shaped links of the two chains, so that the conveyor occupies as little space as possible.

For conveying rather fiat containers with a constant height but a width diameter which can be comparatively arbitrarily selected, an apparatus is provided according to the invention in which the carrying troughs have a rectangular profile and wherein the center line of the rectangular trough profile lies on the side of a plane through the pivot pins of the links other than the lips. In this way it becomes possible to vary, in a usual manner, the dimension of the containers in a longitudinal direction of the carrying trough within large limits, and also to arbitrarily select the width of diameter of the containers within certain limits. Another important advantage is obtained in that the bottom of the container in the last vertical track of the conveyor, during the final treatment phase of the container, is upwardly directed. This is of importance in sterilizing tinned meat, wherein the fat solidifies at the location of the bottom during cooling of the containers.

The invention pertains also to a conveyor designed for an apparatus indicated hereinbefore, in which the conveyor consists of at least two parallel chains wherein between each link a carrier is provided for receiving containers. The carrier consists of a trough with an opening throughout the entire trough, which is directed sideways with respect to the chains. According to the invention the conveyor is particularly suitable for the apparatus described hereinbefore, when each carrying trough on an edge thereof is provided with a laterally protruding lip which is directed in such a way toward the adjacent trough that, when the chains extend vertically, the free container discharge from the opening of the adjacent trough is checked, whereas when the chains make a curve, either the supplying of containers to and the discharge from each carrier is possible, or the opening is still further barred without exerting pressure on the containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 represents in schematic a vertical longitudinal section through a conveyor with cylindrical carriers, which conveyor is shown to move partially according to a vertical track and partially according to an upper curve of a loop; 4

FIG. 2 represents in schematic a vertical longitudinal section through a conveyor according to FIG. 1, but with a part of a vertical track and a lower curve being represented;

FIG. 3 represents in schematic a longitudinal section through a vertical track part and a part of an upper curve of a conveyor according to another embodiment;

FIG. 4 represents a vertical track part and a part of a lower curve of the conveyor according to FIG. 3',

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 50 represent in schematic two pairs of links of chains of the conveyor corresponding to the FIGS. 1 and 2, the pairs of links being depicted in three different positions with respect to each other, the sideways protruding lip having a triangular shape;

FIGS. 60, 6b and 6c are similar sectional views as FIG. 5 of a part of the conveyor according to the FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c are sectional views similar to that of the FIGS. 5 and 6 of a part of a conveyor according to a modified embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The conveyor depicted in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 comprises a plurality of carrying troughs 1 of the type having a cylindrical profile, the ends of which are secured to two identical plate-shaped links 2 of the two chains of the conveyor. In the FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 for clarity there is only represented one chain. The plates of adjacent links of the chain can turn with respect to each other about pivot pins 3. As is indicated in FIG. 5a the carrier 1' is secured on the link 2' and the carrier 1 is secured on the link 2 In order to ensure the rotating motion of the links, spacers can be used for securing the ends of the carrying troughs. The positioning of the carrying troughs is such that the center line of the cylindrical part of each carrier or trough 1 coincides with the pivot pin 3. Consequently, the centers of gravity of the containers 4 disposed in the carriers always are positioned about on this line. The troughs 1 each consist of a hollow half cylinder which is defined by a concealed edge 5 and by an opposite zone 6 extending into a bend or fold. From this zone 6 the profile of the trough extends to the bend or fold, forming a protruding edge 7 via a flat wall 8 which is tangential at the juncture of the zone 6 and the circle profile. The wall 8 constitutes the bridge part between the carrier 1 and the offset lip 9 with regard to the top edge 10. In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 the lip 9 proper is flat whereas in FIG. 5 the lip 9 is triangular. In the first case the lip is situated in a. plane passing through the protruding edge 7 and the concealed edge 5, the plane of which extends above the center line of the semi cylindrical part 1. The lip 9 is thus essentially turned away from the carrier 1. It should be noted that the carrier 1 with wall 8 and lip 9 preferably consists of an element with a uniform cross sectional profile which is only once bent over. The two edges 5 and 10 of the profile may be stiffened by bending over the free longitudinal edges of the profile. It will be obvious that the container 4 in FIG. 1 can be removed from the carrier 1" by translation in the direction perpendicular to the connecting plane between the concealed edge 5 and the bending zone 6. The containers 4 can also be in troduced into the carrier 1'' in the direction of the arrow 1 1.

The positioning of the carrier 1, 8, 9 with respect to the links 2 is such that in a vertical track of the conveyor the top edge 10 of each lip 9 bars the opening of the adjacent carrying trough. In the construction according to FIG. I and 2, wherein the center line of the cylindrical part of each trough l coincides with pivot pin 3 of the link, the top edge 10 of a lip turns around the container 4 disposed in a carrier 1, when two links pivot with respect to one the other in the way represented in FIG. 5. In the mutual position of the links 2 according to FIG. 5a the container 4 can be removed from the carrier 1', but in the position according to the FIGS. 5b en 5c the containers 4 cannot be removed from the respective containers. It is also obvious that rotation of the links with respect to each other beyond the extent depicted in the FIGS. 5a and 5c is possible, since the top edge 10 can turn, centered around the pivot pin 3, along the container 4 beyond the extent represented in the FIGS. 50 and 50.

FIG. 5a represents two chain links with associated carrying troughs in a position corresponding to the upper curve of the conveyor according to FIG. 1. The sprocket wheel concerned (not shown) has in this instance a center 12. This sprocket wheel has, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, eight teeth. In addition to the essential requirement that in this upper curve of FIG. 1 the sprocket wheel has a circular pitch corresponding to the distance between the center lines of two consecutive pivot pins of a chain it is also a requirement that the diameter of the sprocket wheel is determined whereby the angle between two links is at least sufficient to allow the turning of the top edge of a lip 9 to beside the opening delimited by the concealed edge 5 and the bending zone 6.

In the vertical conveyor tracks represented in FIG. I which correspond with FIG. 5b it is a requirement that the top edge 10 of the lip 9 has turned so far, before the opening of the adjacent carrying trough, that a container is confined in this trough. For that purpose the distance between a top edge 10 and the edge 7 of the adjacent carrying trough should be smaller than the diameter of a container 4.

If this requirement in the vertical track is met then in a lower curve according to FIG. 2, where the sprocket wheel is situated on the side of the openings of the carrying troughs, in comparison with the upper bend of FIG. 1, where the sprocket wheel is situated on the side of the plane through the pivot pins of the chains other than the openings of the carriers, the top edge 10 of the lip 9 will further close the adjacent opening of the carrying trough, as distinctly appears from FIG. 50. In case the center line of the cylindrical part of the profile of the carrying trough does not fully coincide with the continuation of a pivot pin of the chain then it will be a requirement in the relative track, in this case e.g. in the lower curve according to FIG. 2, that the distance between the top edge 10 and the bottom of the carrying trough is greater than the diameter of the container disposed therein. This construction will prevent in a lower curve the top edge of a lip 9 a pressure being exerted on the containers disposed in the adjacent carrying trough.

In the embodiments of the conveyor depicted in the FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, carrying troughs with a rectangular profile are used. The pivot pins 21 of the links are situated on either side of the troughs. In these carrying troughs having a rectangular profile, it is possible to accommodate cylindrical containers of a rather small length, but of different diameters. It is also possible to have in opposite vertical track portions alternatively the bottom and then again the cover of the containers facing upwardly. With reference to FIG. 6a, 6b and 6c it is obvious that the top edge 22 of the lip 23 during the pivoting motion of adjacent links of the chains describes a circular are around the pivot pin 21. The maximal angle which two links can make with each other is defined in the upper curve according to FIG. 6a by the condition that the two corners 24 and 25 of the adjacent carrying troughs should not come into contact with each other. This pivotal angle should, however, be so large that the top edge 22 of the lip 23 is turned away along the arc of circle so as to extend out of reach of the opening of the adjacent trough. If the length of a container 26 is smaller than the width of a carrying trough, the top edge 22 need not be entirely arranged outside the space over an opening of the carrying trough in the situation according to FIG. 6a.

An important requirement in the vertical track of FIG. 3 corresponding to the position according to FIG. 6b is that the top edge 22 has to be turned along the circular arc to within the space above the opening of the carrying trough, the arrangement being such that the lip 23 intersects the plane 27.

FIG. 6a corresponds with the position in the upper curve of the conveyor according to FIG. 3, and FIG. 6c corresponds with the situation in the lower curve according to FIG. 4. A requirement in the vertical track of the conveyor lies in that the distance between the lip 23 and the edge 28 of the adjacent carrier which constitutes the bridge part to the lip 23 must be smaller than the length of a container placed in the carrier. If such a condition is satisfied then also a container with a smaller diameter, as indicated in FIG. 3 by a dash line 29, will not fall from the carrier on tilting of the latter. The diameter of the sprocket wheel in the lower curve according to FIG. 4 should be so large that the angular displacement between two adjacent links of the chains is at most so extensive that the top edge 22 of the lip 23 just bears against a container 26 with a maximum diameter.

It is evident that it is not an essential requirement that the diameters of the sprocket wheels according to FIG. 3 and 4 are identical. It should be noted that in the embodiments according to FIG. 3, 4 and 6 the centers of gravity of containers having a maximum diameter are situated on the side of the plane extending through the pivot pins 21 of the links other than the openings of the carrying troughs. This, in effect, will prevent that in an upper curve, when the chains are not tensioned tightly enough, the links turn in such a way about the pivot pins 21 that the carrying troughs tilt and the containers glide down along the lips 23.

In FIG. 7 there is represented an embodiment of a conveyor with rectangularly profiled carrying troughs, which is modified with respect to the conveyor according to the FIGS. 3,4 and 6. In this conveyor the extensions of the pivot pins 30 pass through the symmetry lines of the rectangular carrying troughs 31. The top edges 32 of the lips 33 move again, during the pivoting motion of two adjacent links of the chains, according to a circular circle around the pivot pin 30. The adjacent corner edges 35 and 36 of two carrying troughs are spaced in such a way with respect to one the other that in the position according to FIG. 7a, at a comparatively large pivotal motion of two adjacent links in an upper bend of the conveyor, the edge 35 does not touch the wall 37 of the adjacent carrying trough. The position in FIG. 7b corresponds to a vertical track of the conveyor and the position according to FIG. 7c corresponds to a lower curve of the conveyor. In the position according to FIG. 7a the bottoms of the carrying troughs are directed toward the sprocket wheel and in the position according to FIG. the openings of the carrying troughs are directed toward the sprocket wheel. For the other positions the same requirements apply for the conveyor depicted in FIG. 7 as for the conveyor according to FIG. 6. A space saving advantage lies however in that the diameters of the sprocket wheels may be made smaller.

It is evident that within the scope of the invention the positioning of the troughs on the plates of the links with respect to the pivot pins may be chosen at will, while the shape of the profile of the carrying troughs and the shape and positioning of the lips may be related thereto as required.

What is claimed is 1. An apparatus, such as a continuous sterilizer or pasteurizer, comprising an endless conveyor following a path with vertically extending runs and upper and lower curved loops, said conveyor comprising two parallel chains, sprocket wheels guiding at least the upper curves of the loops, a plurality of carriers being supported between said chains for conveying containers, each said carrier comprising an arcuately shaped trough having an opening extending the entire length thereof, said opening being sidewardly directed during the vertical runs of the conveyor path, one edge of said opening being provided with a sidewardly protruding lip extending along substantially the entire length of the edge, each said chain comprising a plurality of links, pivots interconnecting adjacent links, each said carrier being mounted at the ends thereof to a respective one of the links of at least one of the conveyor chains, the pivotal center line of each said carrier essentially coinciding with the pivotal axis of the pivot of the link to which said carrier is secured and the adjacent link on the side opposite the protruding lip, said lip being dimensioned to project toward an adjacent trough so as to, during each vertical run of the conveyor path, partly overlap the opening of said adjacent trough to prevent the inadvertent discharge of a container through the opening of the adjacent trough, while during curvilinear movement of the carrier about a sprocket wheel the trough opening is either fully opened, thereby enabling the feeding of containers to, and the discharge therefrom from each carrier, or effecting further restriction of the trough opening without exerting pressure on the containers.

2. An endless conveyor for a continuous sterilizer or pasteurizer adapted to convey containers along a path with vertically extending runs and upper and lower curved loops, comprising; two parallel chains, a plurality of carriers being supported between said chains for conveying said containers, each said carrier comprising an aruately shaped trough having an opening extending the entire length thereof, said opening being sidewardly directed during the vertical runs of the conveyor path, one edge of said opening being provided with a sidewardly protruding lip extending along substantially the entire length of the edge, each said chain comprising a plurality of links, pivots interconnecting adjacent links, each said carrier being mounted at the ends thereof to a respective one of the links of at least one of the conveyor chains, the pivotal center line of each said carrier essentially coinciding with the pivotal axis of the pivot of the link to which said carrier is secured and the adjacent link on the side opposite the protruding lip, said lip being dimensioned to project toward an adjacent trough so as to, during each vertical run of the conveyor path, partly overlap the opening of said adjacent trough, while during curvilinear movement of the carrier the trough opening is either fully opened, thereby enabling the feeding of containers to, and the discharge therefrom from each carrier, or effecting further restriction of the trough opening without exerting pressure on the containers. 

1. AN apparatus, such as a continuous sterilizer or pasteurizer, comprising an endless conveyor following a path with vertically extending runs and upper and lower curved loops, said conveyor comprising two parallel chains, sprocket wheels guiding at least the upper curves of the loops, a plurality of carriers being supported between said chains for conveying containers, each said carrier comprising an arcuately shaped trough having an opening extending the entire length thereof, said opening being sidewardly directed during the vertical runs of the conveyor path, one edge of said opening being provided with a sidewardly protruding lip extending along substantially the entire length of the edge, each said chain comprising a plurality of links, pivots interconnecting adjacent links, each said carrier being mounted at the ends thereof to a respective one of the links of at least one of the conveyor chains, the pivotal center line of each said carrier essentially coinciding with the pivotal axis of the pivot of the link to which said carrier is secured and the adjacent link on the side opposite the protruding lip, said lip being dimensioned to project toward an adjacent trough so as to, during each vertical run of the conveyor path, partly overlap the opening of said adjacent trough to prevent the inadvertent discharge of a container through the opening of the adjacent trough, while during curvilinear movement of the carrier about a sprocket wheel the trough opening is either fully opened, thereby enabling the feeding of containers to, and the discharge therefrom from each carrier, or effecting further restriction of the trough opening without exerting pressure on the containers.
 2. An endless conveyor for a continuous sterilizer or pasteurizer adapted to convey containers along a path with vertically extending runs and upper and lower curved loops, comprising; two parallel chains, a plurality of carriers being supported between said chains for conveying said containers, each said carrier comprising an aruately shaped trough having an opening extending the entire length thereof, said opening being sidewardly directed during the vertical runs of the conveyor path, one edge of said opening being provided with a sidewardly protruding lip extending along substantially the entire length of the edge, each said chain comprising a plurality of links, pivots interconnecting adjacent links, each said carrier being mounted at the ends thereof to a respective one of the links of at least one of the conveyor chains, the pivotal center line of each said carrier essentially coinciding with the pivotal axis of the pivot of the link to which said carrier is secured and the adjacent link on the side opposite the protruding lip, said lip being dimensioned to project toward an adjacent trough so as to, during each vertical run of the conveyor path, partly overlap the opening of said adjacent trough, while during curvilinear movement of the carrier the trough opening is either fully opened, thereby enabling the feeding of containers to, and the discharge therefrom from each carrier, or effecting further restriction of the trough opening without exerting pressure on the containers. 